Pedestrian safety and road improvements are among several initiatives the City of Toronto will undergo to benefit neighbourhoods surrounding O’Connor Drive from Woodbine Avenue north to Eglinton Avenue, a public meeting was told on January 15.

Details of the initiatives were discussed at Victoria Park Elementary School during the public information event which also served as a Public Open House for the “O’Connor Drive Streetscape Master Plan Project”, an initiative to improve the streetscape design along O’Connor Drive between south of St. Clair Avenue East (Sandra Road) and Victoria Park Avenue. City officials were on hand to answer questions from the public regarding the improvements.

The initiatives will begin this year and will include reconstruction of the intersections at O’Connor Drive and Woodbine Avenue [see December issue, “More changes coming to Woodbine-O’Connor corner”] and to O’Connor and St. Clair Avenue to improve pedestrian safety.

“We’re going to be reconfiguring intersections to make them safer and improving the pedestrian environment,” said Ward 31 Councillor Janet Davis following the event.

“It will be a safer environment for all users of the street —drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. With everyone coming together —the businesses, the community and the city— to build a more vibrant, walkable neighbourhood, we can and will see a transformation of O’Connor Drive.”

The improvements also include the installation of new storm and sanitary sewers throughout the Topham Park and Woodbine Gardens neighbourhoods to help address basement flooding; watermain relining in the Bermondsey Drive, Hobson Avenue and Northline Road areas; road resurfacing along Parkview Hill Crescent, Selwyn Avenue and Rexleigh Drive; and installation of a rain garden along Valor Boulevard to help better manage stormwater.